Patent Application
20180156682
The subject invention relates to testing automotive driveline components and other rotating components. Driveline components include, for example, drive shafts, axles, couplings, and other rotating components that are operative to provide torque to the wheels of a vehicle.
Driveline components are tested to ensure that the components will meet or exceed a duty cycle design specification as part of a durability test.
Driveline components may be tested, for example, by installing a component on a test vehicle and driving the vehicle in a testing environment to determine the duty cycle of the component. The rotating components may also be tested using a dynamometer that rotates the component at a speed and subjects the component to a torque.
A dynamometer (dyno) is a device that measures torque and rotational speed of a rotating component or machine. Dynamometers may also be used to induce or exert force, torque, or power on a rotating machine or component. Dynamometers often include motors, motor controllers, and sensors that provide for a device that exerts a desired torque at a desired rotational speed on a component or machine.
It is desirable to provide an improved duty cycle testing system using a dynamometer.
In one exemplary embodiment, a method for testing a component includes mounting a first component on a dynamometer, and controlling the dynamometer to perform a dynamometer duty cycle event that includes exerting torque and speed over time on the first component that is substantially similar to torque and speed exerted over time on a second component during a vehicle testing event.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include the first component being substantially similar to the second component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include the dynamometer duty cycle event that is operative to simulate on the first component, varying torque and speed over time that was exerted on the second component during the vehicle testing event.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments, the first component includes a vehicle driveline component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include the dynamometer being operative to exert a varying torque and speed on the first component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include performing the vehicle testing event on the second component prior to controlling the dynamometer to perform the dynamometer duty cycle event.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include the vehicle testing event includes using sensor data to collect and store torque and speed exerted on the second component while the second component is mounted in a vehicle and the vehicle is being operated during the vehicle testing event.
In another exemplary embodiment, a testing system includes a dynamometer, and a processor communicatively connected to the dynamometer. The processor is operative to control the dynamometer to perform a dynamometer duty cycle event that includes exerting torque and speed over time on a first component mounted in the dynamometer that is substantially similar to torque and speed exerted over time on a second component during a vehicle testing event.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include the first component being substantially similar to the second component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments the dynamometer duty cycle event is operative to simulate on the first component varying torque and speed over time that was exerted on the second component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include wherein the vehicle testing event includes using sensor data to collect and store torque and speed exerted on the second component while the vehicle is being operated during the vehicle testing event.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include wherein the first component includes a vehicle driveline component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include wherein the dynamometer is operative to exert a torque and speed on the first component.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method for controlling a dynamometer includes exerting torque and speed over time on a first component mounted in the dynamometer that is substantially similar to torque and speed exerted over time on a second component during a vehicle testing event. The vehicle testing event includes operating a vehicle while the second component is mounted in the vehicle and collecting torque and speed data from sensors that sense torque and speed of the second component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments, the first component is substantially similar to the second component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments, wherein the dynamometer duty cycle event is operative to simulate on the first component, torque and speed over time that was exerted on the second component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments the first component includes a vehicle driveline component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include wherein the dynamometer is operative to exert a torque and speed on the first component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include performing the vehicle testing event on the second component prior to controlling the dynamometer to perform the dynamometer duty cycle event.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments include wherein the vehicle testing event includes using sensor data to collect and store torque and speed exerted on the second component while the second component is mounted in a vehicle and while the vehicle is being operated during the vehicle testing event.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
The methods and systems described herein provide for an improved method for testing components on a dynamometer that realistically simulates duty cycle events. A duty cycle event is an event that may occur during the duty cycle of a component. For example, an axle may experience torque at a particular rotational speed during a duty cycle event.
Previous methods for testing components on a dynamometer use a block cycle test method that tested the components at a first torque and a first rotational speed for a first time period. After the first time period expires, the component is tested at a second torque and a second rotational speed for a second time period, and so on. Such block cycle testing does not simulate realistic duty cycle events using the dynamometer.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,
The use of the dynamometer 112 to simulate the torque and speed induced on a component in a vehicle during a vehicle testing event provides an improved testing method. In this regard, more realistic, efficient and effective component testing using a dynamometer is achieved by testing a component on the dynamometer 112 using varying torque and speed over time that simulates, or substantially corresponds to, the varying torque and speed measured on the component during a vehicle testing event.
The test system 100 includes a processor 102 that is communicatively connected to a memory 104, a display 106, an input device 108, a network 110, and the dynamometer 112. A component 101 is mounted to the dynamometer 112.
The component 101 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment may include, for example, any driveline component such as, drive shafts, axles, wheels, brake components, couplings, associated fasteners and any other components that are operative to provide power to the wheels of a vehicle. Besides driveline components, the component 101 may include any other type of rotating component of a vehicle that may be subjected to a durability test.
In operation, the processor 102 of the test system 100 is operative to control the dynamometer 112 by providing either a data file with testing instructions for the dynamometer 112 to process and perform, or by sending a control signal to the dynamometer 112 to control a testing event. The control of the dynamometer 112 will be described in further detail herein.
The component sensors 204 may be communicatively connected to a processor 202 via a wired or wireless connection. The processor 202 may receive and process data from the sensors 204 as the component sensors 204 are operating. Alternatively, the component sensors 204 may operate on the vehicle 201, and gather and store the testing data on the vehicle 201. Following the vehicle test, the data 208 may be retrieved from the sensors 204 with the processor 202 by establishing a communicative connection between the processor 202 and the component sensors 204.
The processor 202 is communicatively connected to a memory 206 that stores the sensor data 208 from the component sensors 204. The processor 202 is also communicatively connected to an input/output (I/O) device or devices 210.
The system 100 (of
The use of the dynamometer 112 to simulate the torque and speed experienced by a component on a vehicle during a vehicle testing event provides an improved testing method. In this regard, testing a component on the dynamometer 112 using torques and speeds that simulate or substantially correspond to the torques and speeds measured on the component during a vehicle testing event allows more realistic and effective component testing using a dynamometer. Such a testing system and method provides reduced testing costs while performing a more effective and realistic dynamometer test. Such tests may also reduce the time spent testing the component in vehicle testing events.
While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the application.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application No. 62/429,467, filed Dec. 2, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62429467 | Dec 2016 | US |
